Flood victims will have a guest on Diwali. Prime minister Narendra Modi willl be travelling to Srinagar on Thursday to provide much needed healing touch to the people in distress.
What will be Prime minister doing in Kashmir?
Prime minister Modi will create history on Thursday when he will be spending festival of lights with the flood sufferers of Kashmir. "Will be in Srinagar on Diwali, 23rd October and will spend the day with our sisters and brothers affected by the unfortunate floods," he tweeted
Elated by the goodwill gesture, J&K state BJP said Modi is the first prime minister of the country who will spend the festival with the people of Kashmir.
"He wants his Diwali as simple as Eid of Kashmiri Muslims. It amply shows that Kashmir is close to his heart", Khalid Jahangir, BJP spokesman for Kashmir, told dna.
What message Modi is trying to give?
"His message is clear that Kashmir has not been forgotten by New Delhi. This visit is aimed at giving human touch to the people of Kashmir. This time he wants to share sorrows of flood victims and that is why he is coming to Kashmir," said Jahangir.
What is state government expecting?
The ruling National Conference (NC) is expecting the announcement of the package for the flood hit Kashmir. Omar Abdullah led cabinet has already approved the special financial package for submission to centre for providing of funds to the tune of Rs44,000 crore.
"He will not just come to distribute sweets. That would be too much and it would be a joke. I feel he would use this occasion to announce a package," said Mustafa Kamal, additional general secretary of NC and chief minister Omar Abdullah's uncle.
How is opposition reacting?
"He is most welcome. It is a good gesture that he is coming to spend Diwali with the flood victims. It would have been more thoughtful had he come on Eid. Eid was observed when flood waters were still in Srinagar. It could have helped also in putting some pace in relief and rehabilitation work," said Naeem Akthar chief spokesman of main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP).
National Panthers Party (NPP) led by Bhim Singh however said Prime Minister shall be celebrating Diwali by lighting lamps in Srinagar while over two dozen bodies of the flood victims in Panchari and Nowshera of Jammu are still buried under debris for want of couple of JCB machines. "Prime Minister should also light the Diwali lamps on the rocks where bodies of human beings could not be dug out," he said.
How is Kashmir Inc. reacting?
According to Kashmir Inc, the valley has suffered financial losses of over Rs one lakh crore in the devastating floods. Official figures reveal that around 12.5 lakh families have been affected due to flood fury that claimed 281 lives --196 in Jammu province and 85 in Kashmir valley.
"We are expecting a big rehabilitation package from the Prime Minister because people are homeless, young boys have lost their jobs and businessmen are without business for months. Modi should use human approach while announcing the package," said Sheikh Ashiq, president Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
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